(CNN) – Rep. Darrell Issa's assertion Sunday that Jay Carney is a "paid liar" wasn't met with a chorus of agreement Monday from fellow Republicans, some of whom said the comment was misplaced amid real worries about government overreach.

Two outspoken senators – John McCain and Lindsey Graham – both disavowed the remark, saying Issa should focus instead on getting to the bottom of the scandals engulfing the Internal Revenue Service.
"You can go too far," Graham said on the Fox News Radio program "Kilmeade and Friends."

"Let's don't make it personal," continued the South Carolina Republican. "Jay Carney is not the issue here. He's the spokesman for the White House. Just keep doing what you're doing, Darrell."

He encouraged Issa, the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, to "just plod through" the investigation into which levels of the IRS instigated the targeting of conservative groups applying for tax exempt status.

In an interview on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday, Issa told Candy Crowley that Carney is a "paid liar" for repeating the IRS line that employees in Cincinnati were responsible for the IRS mess-up. He said interviews with IRS employees suggested otherwise.

"Their paid liar, their spokesperson, pictured behind, he's still making up things about what happens," he said, pointing to a photo of Carney on the set.

McCain, speaking on CBS "This Morning," said he uses the word "liar" sparingly when referring to fellow officials.

"I would never like to use that word," he said. "I think that we should let these investigations take their course, let the facts come out."

soundoff(197 Responses)

There are no bigger losers in America than the humiliated Republicans.

6 years now, and not ONE Republican bill has passed in Congress.

The party of 18% ... funny how the truth challenged Republicans never complained about things like the WMD's, that killed over 500,000 humans ... oh just a little mistake ...

June 4, 2013 01:23 pm at 1:23 pm |

Darth cheney

I think it's a credible statement; after all, Darrell Issa is a world-class paid liar.

June 4, 2013 01:31 pm at 1:31 pm |

a slozomby

they are all liars.

June 4, 2013 01:31 pm at 1:31 pm |

Darth cheney

Perhaps Issa's real annoyance is that Carney isn't good enough at being a paid liar.

June 4, 2013 01:32 pm at 1:32 pm |

Snarky MacFee

McCarthy reincarnated? He is only interested in his ovepaid bootie not the ills of the IRS and wasteful spending (for the last at least 50+ yrs). Shame on this media-searching wretch. Mccain and Graham are right on this one and I rarely agree with either of them.

June 4, 2013 01:34 pm at 1:34 pm |

yogi

The same old Republiparrot's favorite song: "Liars and conspiracies, and we hate this president", and too bad most of the choir members are out-of-tune.

These two BOZO'S should be DEMORATS since they always seem to be in bed with them.

June 4, 2013 01:52 pm at 1:52 pm |

Frmr Mrine

Did anyone know who Issa was before he started making outrageous claims? He's just another politician using the Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Joe McCarthy tactic of throwing as much mud against the wall as possible to see what sticks. If it weren't for the media's complicity, none of these people would be known outside of their immediate family.

June 4, 2013 01:53 pm at 1:53 pm |

JohnW

Christian Grey

If you read anything but CNN and listened to anyone but MSNBC it would be right at the tip of you nose...just keep keep your head burried in the sand and all will be alright...
--------------–
When only right-wing "news" agencies report something, why should we believe that everybody else is wrong? I never watch MSNBC, by the way, and CNN is the most unbiased news source in America. Also, I notice that my challenge to provide examples was completely skipped over by you. Color me unsurprised.

June 4, 2013 01:59 pm at 1:59 pm |

Henry

Dems haven't accepted the Robert's decision regarding free $peech. IRS has a finger in the dike.

June 4, 2013 02:06 pm at 2:06 pm |

Hamburger Jones

Issa's going out with a bang, since all he's proven is that he hates the president and has no actual facts. He said "I think" and "it seems" and "in my opinion" but never "the truth is . . . "

June 4, 2013 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |

Hamburger Jones

"If you read anything but CNN and listened to anyone but MSNBC it would be right at the tip of you nose"

You mean that if he listened to nothing but FOX and those fat angry guys, he'd have no information except what they gave him, same as you. It's really sad to hear a man brag about how little he knows.

June 4, 2013 02:26 pm at 2:26 pm |

Paulmsn

Note that Christian Grey did not provide any proof, either - just more blind rhetoric. A far-right compulsion, apparently.

June 4, 2013 02:28 pm at 2:28 pm |

Hamburger Jones

Well, after a tantrum like that it's hard to pretend that you are on anything but a witch hunt, so this will all be over soon. Issa could have kept it going longer but his real agenda got away from him.

June 4, 2013 03:25 pm at 3:25 pm |

Rudy NYC

Paulmsn

Note that Christian Grey did not provide any proof, either – just more blind rhetoric. A far-right compulsion, apparently.
---------------
Christian Grey proved it. Grey said it. That's proof enough for the right wing, and it should be proof enough for you.

June 4, 2013 03:41 pm at 3:41 pm |

Ol' Yeller

It's funny how Issa claims everyone is lying. Well here is a novel idea, if Holder was lying then why do you not charge him and try him? Perjury is a crime, Holder was under oath before Congress, if he lied then it is Issa's job to charge and try him. He would obviously love to.... Well... ???
Exactly, Issa has nothing and his continued demagoguery and and overreach is what these two half way intelligent politicians are trying to warn him about. They've seen this dog and pony show before (Hell, we all saw this same dog and pony show in Clinton's second term). Issa is nothing but a loud mouthed fool and his overreach is starting to worry his own party. I say...
Proceed....

June 4, 2013 04:03 pm at 4:03 pm |

Ol' Yeller

I forgot to add... Holder was under oath when he told Issa he was 'Shameless'.
Still no perjury, not even close.
Proceed Congressman, by all means proceed...

Issa is a pathelogical liar and has been ,how do think he got this job and committes...Issa should be investigated by internal affairs but that would make republicans even more criminal,corrupt than they really are..Issa a car thief ,arsonist and calls out Carney calling him a paid liar and is Issa working in congress for free ,not the last time I checked hypocrites!!Let me ask republicans a question just how many millions are republicans going to waste of tax payers dollars in unwarrented hearings,committes,witch hunts all political before all your asses hit the door next November because for you to chastise anyone for spending when you yourselves can't stop it yourselves is pretty ironic isn't it republicans or am I delushional and republicans are actually the good guys ,NOT!!

June 4, 2013 05:07 pm at 5:07 pm |

Stellar17

Issa should be fired...

June 4, 2013 06:19 pm at 6:19 pm |

lolwut

Is there literally nothing for which Obama's delusional cult of personality will ever hold this administration accountable?

These are the same people who would be screaming bloody murder about "tyranny" and "shredding the constitution" if this same outrage occurred under a Republican administration. Hypocrites.